Comments on: Writer’s Strike: No Contract….But at Least a New Food Blog

By: Idetrorce

Idetrorce — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 07:23:13 +0000

very interesting, but I don’t agree with you
Idetrorce

By: PoPlOckEr UnO

PoPlOckEr UnO — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 08:18:15 +0000

L.A. Resident
I dont know what type of people you hang out with, but my Spanish is not your ghetto LA or half ass American elementary school – “Spanglish”.

By: Randy Paul

Randy Paul — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 03:53:28 +0000

Spanish olive oil is better than Italian IMHO. I don't know if any of you saw this article in The New Yorker, but this part jumps out at me:

(For the past ten years, Spain has produced more oil than Italy, but much of it is shipped to Italy for packaging and is sold, legally, as Italian oil.)

Interesting.

By: maggie

maggie — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 02:43:40 +0000

Hey, Celeste, just noticed your pick is Mexican, not Spanish! As Poplock says, they have virtually nothing in common. (Tho spicy Mexican food has crept into Spain, too — especially those baja-style fish tacos and lobster tortillas.) So far the heated Spanish vs. Italian food debate has been pretty civil, amazing for this blog — don’t confuse it with Mexican vs. Spanish, that will be too volatile!

By: maggie

maggie — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 02:38:50 +0000

Shhh… We don’t want a certain person to hear and come ruin the ambiance: Tasca, in We Ho, on Third. Tuna tartare, pates as well as fresh-shaved salumes, prosciuttos, yummy cheeses, all in a Barcelona-meets Paris tapas wine bar vibe. Just a year ago it was BYBO but it’s too popular now. Near the older and trendy A.O.C., also good, but some feel it’s gotten too chic — but then, so are tapas bars in Spanish cities.

For basic good food, Celeste’s pick may be the ticket, but is something with “Garibaldi” in it really Spanish, not Italian?

By: Celeste Fremon

Celeste Fremon — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 23:01:51 +0000

Hmmmm. A Spanish restaurant? Let me think on it. Favorite LA Mexican restaurant is still La Serenata de Garibaldi, the original First Street location—for dinner, not lunch.

By: maggie

maggie — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 09:55:26 +0000

When I studied Spanish, my teachers and prof’s made a big point of telling us it was Castillian, which I gather is like Oxford is to English. Very careful annunciation, elegance. (I did say that the Alpujarras villages had not only unique hams and wines, but cheese — and they all go together, with good bread and fresh gazpacho. Simple but robust and fresh tastes.) Sitges is great if crowded — tons of English with second homes there. The Catalans north of Barcelona also make a huge point that you are visiting Catalonia, not Spain — and there is separatist graffiti all over, except the coastal tourist areas where they promptly remove it. But at least no one was getting blown up then.

I didn’t have any problem as an American even in the Basque region (although I wouldn’t have taken a bus or gone near a Spanish gov’t building), nor have I ever — people are usually flattered you’ve gone to visit them at all, as long as you listen. (Except for fundamentalist areas, which are a world of their own.) But sometimes you encounter a political zealot and get such an earful, it’s just easier to say you’re Canadian — I travel with a maple leaf t-shirt and hat if I sense a political barrage coming on.

By: L.A. Resident

L.A. Resident — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 05:57:59 +0000

I went into the Basque area but strictly talked Spanish and stated my nationality as Mexicano.

Poplock,
Do you think the people of Spain would confuse your Spanglish with their Spanish? lol

By: L.A. Resident

L.A. Resident — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 05:54:29 +0000

No one mentioned paella, lamb or the great cheeses and breads in Spain. Maybe compared to our Wonder white bread and American cheese, any countriesâ€™ â€œrealâ€ bread and cheese is good to me.

Most Ham and sausage is just too greasy and fatty for my taste, although sometimes I do like a grilled Kielbasa sausage.

I enjoyed all the different types of Empanadas (Spanish Pastry Pie for the gringos), even had some pretty good calamares empanadas. I like sampling calamari in different places.

********************

My L.A. restaurant recommendation is a small Greek place, Le Petit Greek on Larchmont St, in the Larchmont shopping and dining area. Great Lamb shank, salmon and Greek salads, a good feta cheese.

Anybody recommend any Southern Calif. Restaurants for their Spanish food and paella?

By: PoPlOckEr UnO

PoPlOckEr UnO — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 05:29:42 +0000

I went into the Basque area but strictly talked Spanish and stated my nationality as Mexicano. At the time, the U.S Consulate gave orders for Americans to stay in-doors and stop all travel in Spain period. They were rumors of ETA attacking Americans on public transportation buses and trains. The ETA was hitting banks and government buildings left and right. The experience of seeing private paid cammandos guarding banks with high power machine guns is a sight to see. Nevertheless, it was an awesome place to live and the food was better than the majority of Spain. But then again, like the Basque people, I dont consider them Spanish.